Oil burning heater structure



Aug. 26, T958 1* FILE. 1

R. R. SMITH OIL BURNING HEATER STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 11, 1957 46 F"JE1'.E

W a M mil? Maw? Arron/vars United States Patent 2,848,991 OIL BURNINGHEATER STRUCTURE Roy R. Smith, Chester, Minn. Application February 11,M57, Serial No. 639,527

9 Claims. (Cl. 126-94) This invention relates to an improvement in thestructure of an oil burning-heater and particularly in an improvement ofa draft control for the'combustion' chamber of'said heater. It isdesirable to have means for supplying air in substantially uniform andknown quantities to all portions of a combustion chamber and to have aconveniently located and easily operated means for precisely controllingthe admission of said air to said combustion chamber. This applicationdiscloses a substantial differ- .ence in structure over the applicantsprevious application,

Serial No. 366,149, filed July 6, 1953, and now abandoned.

It is an object of this invention to provide an efficient oil burningheater of quite small overall dimensionhaving a draft control means forsupplying substantially uniform amounts of air to all portions of thecombustion chamber in said heater and having said control meansconveniently located and easily operated for precise control of thedraft thus created.

It is another object of this invention to provide an oil burning heaterhaving a cylindrical casing having an open-ended heating tube therein ofalmost the same length as said casing and having the lower end of saidtube resting on an air inlet extending inwardly a'nd upwardly of saidcasing for a short distance, a combustion chamber about said air inlet,and means at the top of said casing for raising and lowering said tubemoving it away from and towards said air inlet for controlling theadmission of air to said combustion chamber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an oil burningheater of quite small overall dimension having a tubular casing havingopenings of reduced diameter in the upper and lower ends thereof, aheating tube in said casing coaxial therewith and open at each end, theupper end of said heating tube being rotatably attached to the upper endof said casing and opening to the atmosphere, a tubular portion aboutthe inner end of said lower opening in said casing in circumferentialalignment with said heating tube and forming an air inlet, means formoving said heating tube towards and away from said air inlet to varythe gap therebetween, and an annular combustion chamber about said airinlet.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an' outercasing substantially cylindrical in form having on opening of reduceddiameter in each end thereof, an open-ended heating tube disposed insaid casing and c axial therewith, the upper end of said heating tubebeing rotatably attached to the upper end of said casing whereby theupper end of said heating tube opens to the atmosphere, a cylindricalportion extending inwardly about the lower opening of said casingforming an air inlet and being in circumferential alignment with thelower end of said heating tube, cooperating means secured to the bottomof said tube and the upper end of said inlet portion for supporting saidtube and for moving said tube towards and away from said inlet portionas said tube is" rotated, a smoke outlet in said casing adjacent theupper end 2,848,991 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 2 thereof, and baffle platesin said casing for diverting heat from escaping directly through saidsmoke outlet.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in central vertical section of applicants device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of applicants device;

Fig. 3 is'a view in horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig.1 as indicated 'bythe arrows, with a part thereof shown in diiferentpositions in dotted line;

Fig. 5 is a broken view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale takenon line 55 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig; 6 is a broken view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale takenon line 6-6 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, applicants oil buring heating structure isshown comprising an outer shell or casing 10. Said casing is preferablymade of a metal sheet material, and in the embodiment of the inventionhere illustrated is of a general cylindrical form. Said casing has anupper end 11 having a circular opening 12 of reduced dimension thereinconcentric with said casing. Said casing has a bottom 14 having acircular opening 15 of feduced dimension therein concentric with saidcasing.

A plurality of leg members 17 are circumferentially spaced about saidbottom 14 and are secured thereto, as by welding. A safety pan 1!) isdisposed beneath said opening 15 having a somewhat larger diameter thansaid opening and being spaced somewhat downwardly from said bottom 14and secured thereto by depending brackets 20. A fire door 22 is hingedlysecured to said casing 10 at one side thereof at its lower portion.

An oil receptacle or oil trough 25 is secured in said casing and is hereillustrated formed as annular channel or trough shaped'membersubstantially U'-shaped in radial section and having an outer upwardlyextending rightangled flange 26 secured to the inner side of said member10, as by welding. Said oil trough 25 is spaced upwardly somewhat fromthe bottom 14 of said member 10 and has an inner wall 27 verticallydisposed and'forming a central opening 28 concentric with said openings12 and 15.

Mounted on a bracket 30 which is secured to one side of said casing, asby welding, is an oil metering device 31. Said oil metering device ishere indicated as being of a common gravity feed type and forms no partof the invention herein. An inlet conduit 33 connects said oil meteringdevice to a source of fuel and a conduit 34 extends from said oilmetering device through said casing into said oil trough 25. Said oilmetering device 31 is shown provided with a fuel feed control means 32.

Adjacent the upper portion of said casing 10 is a smoke outlet 36 havingan outwardly extending flange 37 thereabout in which is frictionallysecured a smoke pipe 39 which will exhaust to the atmosphere.

Formed in said upper side 11 of said casing 10 is an annular groove 13of some depth concentric with said opening 12 and having a somewhatgreater diameter than said opening. Said groove is here shown as beingsubstantially U-shaped in radial section.

Disposed in said casing 10 and in axial alignment therewith is a tubularmember 40 forming a heating tube. Said tube 40 Will be formed to be incircumferential alignment with said inner wall 27 of said trough 2'5 andis of a length to extend substantially from the top of said casing tothe upper end of said wall 27. Secured about the upper end of said tube40 is an annular flange 42 having right angled depending inner and outerside portions 43 and 44. Said outer side is adapted to be disposed insaid groove 13. Said inner side 43 will fit snugly against the peripheryof said opening 12. Secured to the upper side of said flange 42 indiametric relation and upstanding therefrom are members 45 havingenlarged head portions forming knobs or hand controls for lifting orrotating said tube 40. The upper end of said tube 40 is thus here shownopen to the atmosphere. Circumferentially spaced about the lower edgeportion of said tube 46 are a plurality of open-ended slits 46preferably formed with sides which are tangential to the surface of saidtube as indicated. Circumferentially spaced about said tube 40 andsomewhat above said slits 46 are a plurality of spaced apertures 47shown here formed in two parallel rows in staggered relation with sidestangential to the surface of said tube 40. Said slits and apertures areof quite small dimension and are adapted to provide just enough air tosaid oil trough 25 to support combustion.

Circumferentially spaced about the inner side of said wall 27 andsecured along said inner side at an inclined angle are a plurality ofbrackets 49. Said brackets may be variously formed, but are hereillustrated as being arc-shaped, substantially rectangular in crosssection and of some length. Depending from the lower end of said tube 40and circumferentially spaced about the inner surface thereof and securedthereto, as by welding, are pins 50. Said pins may be variously formed,but are here shown as being made of rod-like material of small dimensionand are adapted to be supported on the upper surfaces of said brackets49. Thus said tube will be moved towards and away from the upper end ofsaid inner wall 27 by rotation of said tube 40 with said pins 50 movingon the upper surfaces of said inclined brackets 49. Indicated on theupper surface of said flange 42 and in cooperative relation therewith onthe upper side of said casing are indicia forming a scale 51. Said scale51 is calibrated to the relationship between pins 50 and brackets 49 sothat upon rotation of said tube 40 it may be moved towards or away fromthe upper edge of said inner wall 27 a precise and known distance forpositive and accurate control of admission of air through the opening 28and into the combustion area in and above said oil trough 25, said airthus admitted being in addition to that admitted by said slits 46 andapertures 47.

Disposed in said casing 10 is a bafile plate 52 here formedsemi-circular in plan having a right-angled flange at its side adjacentthe wall of said casing and being secured to said casing, as by welding.The inner end of said'batfle will be spaced at short distance away fromthe surface of said tube 40. Said plate will be located in said casingat substantially a midpoint thereof and in alignment with said outlet36. A second baffie member 54 is secured to said casing and disposedsubstantially about said opening 36 but having its upper edge portionspaced away somewhat from the upper end of said casing 10 whereby thesmoke exhausted through said opening 36 will rise upwardly and move overthe upper edge portion of said bafllle 54.

The overall dimension of said casing 10 is quite small and in thepreferred embodiment here illustrated it is indicated as beingapproximately 26 inches in overall height and 11 inches in diameter withsaid heating tube being approximately five inches in diameter.

In operation, the oil trough 25 will be fed by gravity through saidmetering device 31 in a well known manner. A lighted match is simplydropped into said oil trough 25 to ignite the fuel and may be so droppedthrough said door 22. When said tube 40 is in its lowest position, itwill rest on the upper edge of said inner wall 27. A sufficient amountof air will be admitted through the slits 46 and apertures 47 to supportcombustion. Air will rise upwardly through the opening 28 and thenthrough said slits 46 and apertures 47 into the combustion area. Theinclined sides of said slits and apertures provide the air movingtherethrough with a swirling effect. By means of the applicantsstructure a very precise and definite control is maintained over theopening for admission of air. Said scale 51 as indicated is calibratedto the relationship between said pins 50 and brackets 49. By rotation ofsaid tube 40 by means of the hand controls 45 at the top. of said casing10, said tube 40 may be moved away from said inner wall 27 a definitedistance for the admission of a known additional amount of air into thecombustion area. By experiment the operator will soon learn what effectknown additional amounts of air have in regard to the combustion of fuelin the burner, and thus with a little experience a very precise controlcan be maintained over the operation of the burner.

Bafile members 52 and 54 are provided to prevent heat from arising andescaping directly through said outlet 36. The heat is divertedsufficiently so that the portion which would be exhausted directlyordinarily is diverted to pass into said tube 40 and rise upwardlythrough the open end of said tube and into the area to be heated. Thusthere is a maximum utilization of the heat produced in the burner.

There is adequate outlet for the escape of smoke upwardly around saidbaffle 54. Said baflie 54 also serves to prevent heat from being suckedoutwardly through outlet 36 by varying atmospheric conditions, such asby a high wind.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a small, compact and efficient oilburner of simple construction in which is provided a convenientlylocated, easily operated yet precise control over the admission of airto the combustion area for a very efficient operation of the burner.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil burning heater having in combination, a casing, a heating tubein said casing somewhat shorter than said casing and coaxial therewith,said tube being open at each end, the upper end of said tube beingrotatably attached to the top of said casing, an air inlet at the bottomof said casing having a tubular portion extending inwardly of saidcasing in circumferential alignment with said tube, an oil trough aboutsaid tubular portion, cooperating means secured to the lower end of saidtube and to said inlet portion for moving said tube toward and away fromsaid tubular portion when said tube is rotated to control the movementof air into said oil trough.

2. An oil burning heater having in combination, a casing, a heating tubein said casing somewhat shorter than said casing and coaxial therewith,means for rotatably attaching said tube to the top of said casing, anair inlet at the bottom of said casing having a tubular portionextending upwardly thereinto in circumferential alignment with saidtube, the lower portion of said tube being substantially in contact withsaid tubular portion, an oil trough about said tubular portion,cooperating means respectively circumferentially spaced about the lowerend of said tube and the upper portion of said tubular portion formoving the lower end of said tube away from and towards said tubularportion as said tube is rotated.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced open-ended slits in the bottom edge of said tube having sidesextending tangentially to the surface of said tube.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, a plurality of aperturescircumferentially spaced about the lower portion of said tubesomewhatabove said slits and having sides extending tangentially to thesurface of said tube.

5. An oil burning heater having in combination, a casing, a heating tubeopen at each end disposed in said casing and being coaxial therewith,said casing having a circular opening in its top and having an annulargroove of some depth in said top concentric with said opening and havinga somewhat larger diameter than said opening, a flange about the upperend portion of said tube, said flange having a depending outer edgeportion adapted to be disposed in said groove, an air inlet at thebottom of said casing having a tubular portion extending upwardlythereinto in circumferential alignment with said heating tube,cooperating means at the bottom of said heating tube and the upper endof said tubular portion adapted to move said heating tube away from andtowards said inlet portion when said tube is rotated, an annular oiltrough disposed about said tubular portion, mean for supplying fuel tosaid oil trough, an outlet for exhausting smoke from said casing at oneside thereof, and a semicircular baflie plate in said casing parallel tothe ends thereof and in vertical alignment with said smoke outlet fordiverting heat from said smoke outlet.

6. An oil burning heater having in combination, a substantiallycylindrical casing having openings of reduced diameter in its upper andlower ends, a heating tube disposed in said casing coaxial therewith, aflange about the upper end of said heating tube overlying the upper endof said casing and adapted to be rotatably attached thereto, a tubularportion about said opening in the lower end of said casing extendingupwardly into said casing in circumferential alignment with said tube,an annular oil trough about said cylindrical portion, a plurality ofspaced inclined plates secured about the inner side of said cylindricalportion adjacent the upper edge thereof, a plurality of pins secured tothe inner side of said heating tube and depending therefrom and adaptedto be engaged by said plates whereby when said tube is rotated theengagement of said pins and said plates will move said tube towards andaway from said tubular portion.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, a semi-circular baffle plate inplan secured in said casing parallel to the ends thereof and having itsinner edge portion spaced somewhat away from the surface of said tube, asmoke outlet in said casing adjacent the upper end thereof in centralvertical alignment with said baflie plate, and a baffle platesubstantially about said outlet having its upper portion spaced somewhataway from the upper end'of said casing.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6, an annular groove of some depthin the upper side of said casing having a diameter somewhat larger thanthe diameter of the upper opening in said casing, said heating tubehaving a flange secured about the upper end thereof, said flange havinga depending portion adapted to be disposed in said groove, andcooperating means on said flange and the upper side of said casing formeasuring the vertical movement of said tube when the same is rotated todetermine the amount of air admitted through said inlet portion intosaid oil trough.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8, said flange having an innerdepending portion adjacent said tube adapted to fit snugly against theperiphery of said opening.

No references cited.

